Adjust Shadow Distance and Sharpness

Access Shader Settings

Open your shader options menu while in-game. On OptiFine, press Shift + O then navigate to Shaders > Shader Options. On Iris, use /iris config or access settings through the pause menu.

Configure Shadow Parameters

Look for shadow-related sliders in the settings panel. Pretty Shadows Shaders provides controls to:

• Increase or decrease shadow render distance — Move the shadow distance slider to control how far shadows cast from your character. Lower values reduce performance impact; higher values extend shadows across more terrain.
• Adjust shadow softness — Find the shadow blur or softness control to make shadow edges sharper (for defined outlines) or softer (for gentler transitions).
• Toggle shadow intensity — Some versions include brightness controls to make shadows darker or lighter.

Apply and Test

After adjusting each setting, observe the changes in real-time. Shadows under trees, mobs, and structures should update immediately. Test in different lighting conditions—bright daylight, caves, and sunset—to ensure your preferences work across all scenarios. If performance drops, reduce shadow distance or softness.